Harrogate livestock company fined after trading standards probe

A successful investigation by North Yorkshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service has led to a livestock company being fined thousands of pounds for illegal cattle movement, which risks the spread of animal disease.

HarrogateMagistrates Court has fined the company £8,500 after it pleaded guilty to eight offences regarding illegal movements of cattle and four offences regarding failure to record cattle movements

The trading standards investigation started as a result of information about the company, Andrew Atkinson Livestock Ltd, Felliscliffe near Harrogate, which was moving cattle from dedicated slaughter markets on to the company’s farm premises. These movements are illegal and breach animal disease control legislation as all livestock that goes in to a dedicated slaughter market can only be moved out direct to a slaughterhouse.

The disease controls were broken further when the cattle movements were not recorded in the company’s farm records or reported to the British Cattle Movement Service.

County Councillor Chris Metcalfe executive member for Trading Standards and Planning Services said:

The rules regarding disease control and traceability are in place to reduce the risk of the spread of any animal disease and also to allow speedy traceability of livestock movements. The County Council will continue to take action against those who flout these rules and who put the livestock sector and rural economy at risk.